Goff surrounded, but still going strong

Concerned about hot weather continuing into next week, the U.S. Forest Service has sent another 20-person firefighter crew to the fire, which was declared contained on Monday.

The additional firefighters were added Friday to keep the 22,283-acre fire contained within fire lines and natural barriers on the northwest corner of the fire, explained spokesman Duane Lyons.

"The warm temperatures and drier humidity has increased the fire activity," Lyons said. "The additional crew will help with mopping up as well as fire suppression."

Temperatures in the region are expected to reach into the 90s through midweek, according to the National Weather Service. Officials were worried about logs and stumps continuing to burn, creating the potential for the fire to become much more active.

However, the fire has remained inside the fire lines, Lyons said, noting the interior activity is in the southern edge of the Red Buttes Wilderness, just south of the Oregon border in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

There are now 60 firefighters working in that area of the fire, he said.

Some 890 acres of the fire is in the Rogue River-Siskiyou forest while the lion's share is in the Klamath National Forest. The fire was sparked by a lightning storm on Aug. 5.

Elsewhere, the fire that once threatened the hamlet of Seiad Valley in the Klamath River drainage has been stopped cold, officials said. No structures were burned by the fire.

"The fire line is in very good shape along the southern perimeter," Lyons said of the area around Seiad Valley.

Late Friday afternoon, officials, citing improved conditions, reopened both the Thompson Ridge Road and Thompson Creek Road on the west side of the fire.